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Spanish drivers keen to represent Sevilla |
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Sunday, 10 February 2008 |
The unveiling of Superleague
Formula's first Spanish club in Sevilla this week has proven to be a major
success with the fans, footballers, the local media and some of Spain's hottest
young racing drivers voicing their support for the championship.
The club's 750 horsepower, V12-powered Superleague Formula car was revealed to
the local media on Thursday and the fans had their turn tonight at Ramón Sánchez
Pizjuán Stadium. Sevilla fought out a tough 1-1 draw over major rivals Barcelona
FC.
Sevilla's red and white Superleague Formula car has been a winner at
newsstands across Spain, with the car featured on the front page of major
newspapers AS, El Diario de Sevilla and El Mundo.
Leading drivers are
excited at the possibility of driving the Elan Motorsport Technologies-built,
Menard Competition Technologies-powered machine.
Andy Soucek and Borja
Garcia have been key contenders in the GP2 championship in recent years. The
Spanish pair drove for DPR and Durango respectively in the Formula 1 support
series last year and both are keen to represent Sevilla in Superleague
Formula.
"Well I heard about the Championship a few years ago and I had
some chats with Alex Andreu - it all looks really exciting," Soucek
said.
"It has been a very big boom now here in Spain, everybody is
talking about it and I was called to be a possible and future driver for the
Championship. I believe it's a very good idea after finishing my GP2 season to
start with Superleague Formula.
"It's a big car with a big engine and
it's also very good training for me, it'll be a big show for everybody who's
going to look at the races.
"The good thing about the car is that it has
no traction control or power steering so it makes it even more difficult for the
driver. It's going to be really exciting to drive the car and to watch the races
because we will see a lot of power sliding and good overtaking.
"I am
from Madrid so Real Madrid is my favourite club but Sevilla absolutely is a very
equal club in Spain. There is a big fight between Madrid and Barcelona but
Sevilla is really loved by everybody in Spain so absolutely, I would love to
defend the colours of this club."
Both drivers took the opportunity to
climb aboard the Sevilla car at Thursday's launch. Superleague Formula will hit
the track for the first time next month when testing begins at England's
Donington Park circuit – the venue for the opening round of the championship in
August.
"I believe it's an interesting competition, to join football and
formula cars, I think it will be a good introduction to motor racing for new
fans," Garcia said.
"It would be great to get the opportunity to drive
this car because I am Spanish and Sevilla is Spanish - I think it would be great
to fight with these colours and this club.
"It will be important to get
good results because the fans of Sevilla of course want to push to win the
championship."
While Sevilla has claimed major silverware in Europe in
recent years with its pair of UEFA Cup titles, the southern Spanish club will
compete in Superleague Formula against other leading European teams including AC
Milan, Olympiacos, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven, RSC Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund,
FC Basel, Galatasaray SK plus Brazilian rivals Flamengo and
Corinthians.
In total, 20 football clubs will be represented on the grid,
fighting it out for 1 million Euro prizemoney at every race
weekend.
Superleague Formula President and CEO, Alex Andreu, was
delighted with the response to the Sevilla launch.
"We knew Sevilla was
excited about the opportunity to join Superleague Formula but the response has
really exceeded our expectations," Andreu said.
"The media reaction on
Thursday was incredible and the fans are very passionate and keen to see their
car challenge for the title.
"The grid is filling fast and we have some
very exciting announcements in the weeks ahead – we feel a real sense of
momentum at the moment. Everyone is also very keen to see the car run for the
first time. Donington will be a perfect venue for that because it is also the
site for our first race."
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